Halloween activities for preschoolers: a plan for schools

Keeping it fun rather than frightening

One frightening design can end in tears halfway through the day. A few common sense suggestions:

• Use gentle characters such as a smiling pumpkin, a round white ghost, a little bat, a black cat or a witch hat
• Skip blood, wounds and heavy black skull designs for the youngest classes
• Let children look at the designs first, and don't push a child who isn't ready
• Ask teachers to dress up in a cheerful way, without scary masks that startle the children

The school should also check its own rules and yearly plan for costume activities before fixing the programme. We don't guess on behalf of any school.

A morning, class by class

The easiest way is to split the morning into turns, one class at a time, rather than sending the whole school to one spot. A morning could run like this:

• Start: welcome the children and let them show their costumes in their own room
• Class turns: one group plays games in the classroom, another goes to face painting, then they swap
• End: the whole school gathers for photos or a parade around the yard

To time face painting for each class, use this estimate: each artist paints about 10 to 15 faces an hour, depending on the design. It is an estimate, not a promise. Simple designs go faster. For example, a class of 15 children needs about 1 to 1.5 hours with 1 artist by that estimate. With several classes you can use more artists, up to 5 for a large event.

Our public prices are 500,000₫ for 1 hour and 900,000₫ for 2 hours. Longer than 2 hours is negotiated separately. See the pricing page.

Games that suit preschoolers

These games are ideas for the school to run, not services we sell. Pick short games with few rules:

• A hunt for paper pumpkins hidden around the room
• Dancing to music and freezing like a statue when it stops
• Making paper masks or colouring pumpkins
• A teacher reading a silly ghost story with a happy ending
• A costume parade around the yard

If the school wants a stage act, we have partner teams for circus and magic at 800,000₫ per hour, and a bubble show run by a partner team. See circus and magic shows. Choose any act for the children's age.

Cute face paint for each age

Preschools usually group children into nursery, then the younger, middle and older kindergarten classes. A starting point you can adjust:

• Youngest class: simple designs with few lines, such as a pumpkin or a white ghost. The simpler the design, the less time a child has to sit still
• Older classes: add a witch hat, a black cat, a bat or a scarecrow
• Children who like the spookier side: try a spider web or vampire fangs, if the child asks for it

Our gallery has a girl with a purple witch hat, a girl with white ghosts and green swirls, a boy in a straw hat with a scarecrow face, and a girl with vampire fangs. Browse more in the photo gallery. Children can choose a design before booking.

Tell us about sensitive skin before booking. We can't promise that every colour suits every child.

What to tell parents beforehand

A short notice, sent before the day, should include:

• The date, time and which class has which turn
• Costumes that are simple and easy to move in
• Whether there is a face painting booth, and a request to tell the teacher about sensitive skin
• One line saying a child may sit out if they don't want to join
• A school contact number for questions

Quick answers about Halloween for preschoolers

Should small children get scary designs? We suggest friendly designs for the youngest classes. A child who prefers a spookier look can choose it.

Is a school allowed to hold Halloween? Each school has its own rules, so check with the school leadership. The school should check its own policy.

See also: Halloween and festival face painting for kids. Message us on Zalo or call 0908 980 603 to ask about dates.